“You summoned me?” I politely greeted everyone with a short bow.

The half-elf was tense, standing in front of three council members. There were no windows in the underground room, but there was a door opposite.

Wizard Lorthar wore black wizards robes, open to reveal a cardigan knit sweater over black leather pants. It was professionally devoid of embellishments. His striking eyebrows were impressive, and he had swept back pointy shoulder-length salt and pepper hair revealing one ear covered in piercings with three dangling pieces.

The infamous Witch Agatha of the North, a sorceress of impressive power, was relaxed in her chair and fiddling with a crystal pendant around her neck. The woman wore a blue dress with embroidery around the corset front and around the skirt hem. It was stamped with softer blue ice diamond patterns that shimmered when she moved. Her hair was piled into a tight bun on the top of her head, and she had added three small silver gemstones horizontally under each eye.

The woman was a stunning beauty even in her older age, and I wished I’d had more opportunity to run into her in the past.

Master Thomas of Servalt was upset, the young mage frowning up at my duke. His light brown hair was long, and his green eyes were bright as the bottom on an alder’s leaf in spring. I knew from experience that he usually wore reading glasses, but took them off for important meetings like today. Tucked under his tunic was a magical amulet of anti-scrying, and the ring on his right pinkie was a storage ring.

“Thank you for coming, Miss Gerda,” Duke Julian waved at the last seat. “Would you join us?”

I wanted to make some quip, asking if I had a choice… but we weren’t alone.

This wasn’t going to be as much fun.

“Okay, but I do have an appointment this evening so I’m sorry that I can’t stay long.” I said, settling in. I did have an appointment - with myself. It was going to take some time to look over the future tomorrow, and I wanted a good night’s sleep before tomorrow’s adventure with Julian. And I still hadn't washed my hair.

“I’ve heard you say that a few times in place of an affirmative.” Witch Agatha stated. She tried the word out. “Okay… what does it actually mean?”

This wasn’t the first time I’d been asked this question, though it was the first time I was going to give my carefully crafted explanation in front of anyone with a high enough level to potentially see through a lie. “It happened many years before I was born, and the origin is still debated by my people, but it can be used pretty interchangeably with alright; as a general agreement or acceptance.”

“We didn't bring you here to discuss the etymology of venacular troll slang. Get on with it.” Master Thomas interrupted, his voice laced with disapproval.

“We are not in a rush,” Witch Agatha replied, waving a hand at one wall, “They aren’t going anywhere.”

“We’ve turned off scrying, but our Guild Mistress is being questioned in the next room, and somethings come up that we would hear your opinion on.” Duke Julian explained. He didn’t look too happy with Master Thomas, and neither did Witch Agatha.

Wizard Lorthar simply observed.

“How can I help?” I asked.

My curiosity getting the better of me, I focused all of my perception on the wall between us and the room holding Guild Mistress Alice - and heard nothing.

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Which was impressive. Grand Duchess Calisto should be resting off her Mana Burn by now; she would need to complete a few eight hour rest cycles before tomorrow’s afternoon tea. That meant it was an enchantment that anyone could activate, or something like a permanent pocket dimension. Either way, I was impressed.

Julian addressed the council members. He stood behind me and slightly to the side. "Then if we are ready I will share what we have learned with Miss Gerda."

I wanted to say that I never actually agreed to help, only asked how I might, but Master Thomas was faster.

Master Thomas snarked, "Fine, let's hear the experts opinion.”

This man was as obnoxious in real life as he was in the game. When Henrietta was wooing the man, the biggest obstacle between them was not the villain but Thomas’ ego.

Duke Julian cleared his throat, “Then I will begin. We have two riddles by two gods. The first was from the God of Shadow.

“We have known the traveler and watched her ways. But I will not claim the realm to Shadow, and the weave is being woven as we walk.”

I waited to hear more, but it really was that short. “What was the question?”

Duke Julian nodded, “Their Royal Highness wanted to know what would happen if they defy fate and continued to live.”

“As a note.” Wizard Lorthar spoke from his seat, eyeing me with an air of interest. “We do not know what the exact question was, since they only provided us with a recording of what Shadow replied.”

“Hm,” I closed my eyes, drawing breath. I'm sure they assumed that Shadow was speaking about Alice as the traveler; My ego was apparently as big as Thomas' because I knew Shadow was talking about none other than myself.

A traveler between worlds.

After replaying the words, I opened my eyes. “I have heard many riddles, and made a few of my own, and Shadow sounds pretty clear. He reminds us that the weave is being woven as we walk, and if we make new or different choices then it doesn't matter if we are going against fate - everything will be adjusted for.”

“That was my conclusion as well.” Julian said with a small smile, more relief than joy.

“And it might have been sufficient, but we were talking about one fate and one riddle - but you didn't just affect Their Royal Highness.” Master Thomas pointed out. He turned dark eyes on me and accused, “You’ve saved how many in your time as Madame Potts? Fifty people?”

A sheet of parchment with each of the Blackfog targets appeared and unrolled in his hand dramatically.

Unintimidated, I looked Thomas directly in the eyes when I answered. “Fifty? Ha, Who do you think I am?"

Julian coughed into his hand, hiding a laugh.

I leaned back into my chair and crossed my legs under my dress. "I’ve saved hundreds if not thousands. Dungeon breaks that wiped entire villages from the map? I prevented. Pirate attacks that sunk merchant fleets? I foiled. Assassins, bandits, stampedes, kidnappings, fires, floods… This list is an insult.”

“Well said, Madame Potts.” The duke turned to Master Thomas, and his eyes glinted when he warned, “It would be wise to control your tone in front of our guest.”

Julian gently put a hand on the back of my chair in support - and if I felt my stomach drop out from how hot he looked, I hid it well.

And I changed my mind; I took back everything. This was fun.

Master Thomas made to reply, but Julian continued. "And It looks like the Blackfog didn’t know as much as they claimed, or they would have a much longer list.”

“So you say… but what about Fate? Let us hear what Madame Potts has to say when faced with a riddle from Fate herself.” Thomas ground out, magically rolling the parchment closed with a snap.

He looked ready to see me fail and I rolled my eyes - if he only knew how many times I had to listen to Fate go off in some riddle of the future…

“I’m ready when you are.” I said.